Stewart Island was easily one of my top destinations I visited during my year in New Zealand. After the North and South Islands, it’s the third-largest island in the country! So many people skip this place on their trip, but it’s one of the most beautiful places in the country. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Stewart Island, paradise on earth!
Planning Your Trip to Stewart Island
Stewart Island is located south of Bluff on the South Island of New Zealand. If you’re flying internationally, Queenstown or Dunedin will probably be the best airports for flights – I use Skyscanner to find the best deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
How to Get to Stewart Island
There are two options for getting to Stewart Island: a one-hour ferry from Bluff, or a 20-minute flight from Invercargill. They’re roughly the same price. I chose to take the ferry, as it would be cheaper and easier to leave my car for a few days in Bluff (get in touch with Kay at the Bluff Inn!) than at Invercargill airport. Real NZ operates the ferry between Bluff and Oban. My journey was smooth and thankfully the sea was pretty calm both directions!
Where to Stay on Stewart Island
I stayed at Stewart Island Backpackers, which is a fantastic hostel in Oban and I absolutely recommend it. There are so many things I loved about this place: great location, a massive well-equipped kitchen, basic dorm rooms and private rooms at an affordable price, tent sites, a kiwi-sighting logbook… the list goes on. I stayed in a dorm room (three beds) which was very basic – just beds, an overhead light, and plug sockets. I wish they’d have had small lockers for valuables, but I felt very safe here and didn’t feel like it was needed – plus, I travel with a portable safe anyway! I really appreciated the huge kitchen, which was very busy during mealtimes but had everything you might need. If you’re looking for budget accommodation, this is the best place to stay.
Click here to book your stay at Stewart Island Backpackers!
I do recommend staying in or close to Oban, as few people hire a car here and it’s much easier to do some of the best hikes on the island if you’re based here! Here’s a few recommendations for other places to stay in Stewart Island:
- Mid-range: South Sea Hotel – popular hotel with an unbeatable location right on the foreshore and a bustling on-site restaurant and bar
- Mid-range: Kaka Retreat – comfortable, modern suites and chalets with either a private balcony or patio tucked away in the bush
- Luxury: Anchorstone – comfortable cabins with a lovely garden between Oban and Horseshoe Bay and friendly hosts, plus small cars available to rent during your stay
When is the Best Time to Visit Stewart Island?
Summer (December to February) is the best time to visit Stewart Island – you’ll have the best weather during this time of year. This is also peak season though, so be prepared for higher prices and busy crowds! I visited in the middle of February, at the end of the peak season, which was absolutely perfect. The weather was (thankfully) spectacular, which meant daily swims and soaking up the sun at all the amazing beaches. Prices drop the rest of the year, particularly in winter (May to August) – if you visit in winter, you might be able to see the Southern Lights here. Check out the Aurora Australis NZ Facebook page, or this website for real-time aurora updates. Visiting from October-November and March-April is a great mix, but the weather will be hit or miss.
How Many Days Do I Need on Stewart Island?
Some people visit Stewart Island for a single day on a day trip from Bluff or Invercargill, or some people come for weeks. It totally depends on what you like to do. While you should still visit for a day if it’s all you can manage, I recommend spending three days on Stewart Island. This will give you enough time to do some of the island’s best walks, possibly visit Ulva Island, and enough time that you’ll hopefully get nice weather for most of your visit for swimming. Staying at least two or three nights will also give better chances for spotting a kiwi – one of the major reasons to visit Stewart Island!
Five days or a week will give you more time to do more hiking at a leisurely pace and maybe spend more time on surrounding islands. But if you don’t have that much time, three days is a solid amount of time.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Stewart Island?
Here’s a quick budget breakdown of my time traveling on Stewart Island. The biggest expenses are ferry/flights and accommodation – a lot of the best things on the island, like hiking and swimming, are free! I brought all my own food over for the three days and cooked/prepared all my meals. So, I didn’t need to buy food (there is a Four Square in Oban, but expect island prices) and I didn’t pay for any food or drinks out. This is what I spent over my three days on Stewart Island.
- Return ferry from Bluff: $250
- 2 nights in dorm accommodation at Stewart Island Backpackers: $100
- 2.5-hour guided tour of Ulva Island: $145
- Parking in Bluff: $10
What to Do on Stewart Island
The best things to do on Stewart Island revolve around nature and the outdoors: hikes, beaches, wildlife, and other outdoor activities. Here’s my pick of the things you can’t miss on Stewart Island!
Horseshoe Point
If I had to pick just one hike to do on Stewart Island, it’d be Horseshoe Point. This great walk starts from Halfmoon Bay (the main part of the island in Oban) and follows the coastline on an undulating trail until reaching the high point of Horseshoe Point. The views here are absolutely phenomenal: I felt like I was in actual paradise! The walk is 8.5km and will take about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Maori Beach
This beautiful beach is a long walk from Oban, but it’s worth it. The trail takes in Horseshoe Point and Horseshoe Bay before crossing to Lee Bay and ending at this spectacular stretch of sand. There’s a campsite here, which is a popular stop on the Rakiura Track (more on that below!) This walk is approximately 22km in total and should take about 6 to 7 hours. I hitchhiked most of the return section from Lee Bay back to Halfmoon Bay.
Ackers Point
Ackers Point is a great short walk from Halfmoon Bay. Head out along the coast to see the lighthouse and great views over the ocean. If you’re lucky, you might even spot little blue penguins here! The walk is 7km total and will take about 1 hour and 40 minutes to 2.5 hours.
Ryan’s Creek
This loop is a fantastic walk from Halfmoon Bay. The first section is through trees and forest, before reaching the coast. The trail follows the beautiful coastline, with a number of pretty bays, before reaching Deep Bay and cutting back over to Oban. Altogether, it’s 11km and will take about 3 hours. There have been reports of daylight kiwi sightings on this hike!
Spot a kiwi
The main attraction on Stewart Island? Kiwis! If you want to see a kiwi in the wild in New Zealand, Stewart Island is your best bet. There are regular kiwi/wildlife night tours, but you don’t need to go on a tour to find them. Trail Park in Oban is a great spot for seeing kiwi at night. Head up in the dark and look (and listen) for the birds at the edges of the long grass at the far end. I saw kiwis here both nights that I was on Stewart Island! Remember to bring a red light (a normal flashlight is harmful for them) and to be quiet.
Visit Ulva Island
Ulva Island is an island close to Stewart Island, with a unique ecosystem as it’s a pest-free island. There are hiking trails here, and lots of flora and fauna to see. If you’re visiting Stewart Island, I definitely recommend doing either a tour or a day trip to Ulva Island. Hike across the island to Boulder Beach or Westend Beach, or hang out near Sydney Cove (this is closest to the ferry docks at Post Office Bay). I did a 2.5-hour guided tour here and really enjoyed it. However, I didn’t realize just how easy it would be to get a boat taxi and hike around on my own. So if I were to go again, I think I’d do this on my own!
Do a multi-day walk
New Zealand is famous for its multi-day tramps (hikes), and there’s a few for serious hikers to do on Stewart Island. The Rakiura Track, a Great Walk, takes in some of the best scenery – it’s a 32-km trail done over three days. Otherwise, there’s the North West Circuit, a 10-12 day hike that covers 125km or the Southern Circuit, which is 105km and 6-9 days.
Relax at the beach
Stewart Island has some of the best beaches in all of New Zealand, no doubt in my mind – and I saw a lot of beaches here! My top recommendations are Bathing Bay, Dead Man Beach, Lee Bay, and Maori Beach. All of these are great for swimming, with lots of sand to spread out and relax. Bathing Bay is the closest to Oban (you just need to walk up a hill).
Catch a show at Bunkhouse Theatre
This unique theater is housed in one of Stewart Island’s historic buildings, which dates back nearly 100 years. Their main show is A Local’s Tail, all about Stewart Island, but they also show independent films.
Visit Rakiura Museum
Learn all about the history of Stewart Island at the Rakiura Museum, located in Oban. Check out exhibits on Maori settlement, whaling, fishing, timber milling, mining, and more. This is a great rainy-day activity if the weather isn’t great on your Stewart Island trip!
Carve your own stone at Rakiura Jade
Jade, also known as greenstone or pounamu, is sacred to Maori culture and found on the South Island. At Rakura Jade, you have the chance to carve your own stone with an experienced carver in his workshop. Even if you don’t want to do a carving workshop, it’s still worth popping by to see the beautiful pieces (many of which are available for purchase!).
Other outdoor activities on Stewart Island
Besides hiking and swimming, there’s a number of other outdoor activities that are popular on Stewart Island. Fishing, hunting, diving, birdwatching, stargazing… the list goes on. This is really an amazing place to enjoy and appreciate nature, and what draws in visitors year after year.
Stewart Island is one of my favorite places in New Zealand. I’ll never forget seeing the stunning beaches and feeling my jaw drop – I didn’t understand how this place could be so beautiful, and I could be lucky enough to be there! It wasn’t as expensive as I thought it’d be, because most of the best things to do here are free – hiking, swimming, seeing wildlife, etc. If you’re heading to New Zealand and wanting to experience a special destination, come here. I hope this post helps planning a trip to Stewart Island!
Have you visited Stewart Island? What were your favorite places on the island?
You might also like my posts:
Kiwi Paradise: A Travel Guide to Abel Tasman National Park
14 Amazing Places You Can’t Miss in the Catlins
21 Phenomenal Places You Must Visit in the Mackenzie Region, New Zealand
The Best Day Hikes Around Queenstown, New Zealand
How to Save Money Traveling New Zealand on a Budget
How Much Does it Cost to Travel New Zealand for 6 Weeks?
Moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life (2025 Guide)
All of my New Zealand posts!
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Don’t forget to support the local businesses including the very well priced Four Square.
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